Dead-end connectors



Dec. 30, 1958 J. J. KLOSIN 2,866,844

DEAD- ND CONNECTORS Fi'led Aug. 8, 1956 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V INVENTOR John J Klosin wdwwy,

ATTORN EY Dec. 30, 1958 J. J. KLoslN 6,

DEAD-END CONNECTORS Filed Aug. 8. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John J. Klosin ATTORNEY United States Patent O "ice 2,866,844 I DEAD-END CONNECTORS John J. Klosin, Yonkers, N. -Y., assigiior to The Thomas & Betts Co., Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 8, 1956, Serial No. 602,777 6 Clainis. (Cl. 174-79 The invention relates to cable connectors and more particularly to dead-end connectorsadapted for anchoring a composite A. C. S. R. cable conductor to a fixed member or support.

More specifically, the invention resides in a dead-end connector of the adjustable pad-branch type which is particularly. adapted for anchoring a steel reinforced aluminum cable conductor to a supporting tower or the like, and for connecting a tap-line or loop to the cable conductor through the dead-end connector, and in the method of fabricating and securing the same to the conductor. I I

In suspending a plurality of cable conductors from a common support, as between towers or the like, it is important that all of the conductors be equally sagged so as to provide uniform. tension on the towers since the developed tension is directly related to the amount of sag provided in each cable conductor between any two of such supports. Moreover, the sag adjustment provided in a dead-end connector as constructed in accordance with the invention, varies with the size sta e cable conductor and line construction practice. For example, a 700 foot spanof 795,000 circular mil, at 50 percent of its ultimate strength, will provide a maximum sag of feet. Thus, ifthe sag is increased to ll feet, the tension on thefixed support or tower will be reduced below the 50 percent ultimate strength factor. Conversely, if the sag is 'reduced. to 9 feet, the tension on the supporting tower structure will be more than the 50 percent ultimate strength factor of the cable conductor.v p p V In accordance with the invention, one inch of adjustment in the improveddead-end connector herein illustrated and described will increase or decrease the sag in a 700 foot span of each cable conductor by one foot, it being understood, of course, that the sag and tension varies by the length of the span and the size of the conductors, The above, examples are cited to illustrate the direct relationship between sag and tension as defined in the art A Known forms of dead-end connectors, asutilized heretofore for supporting A. C. S. R. cableconductors', for

example, were not adapted for adjusting the sag and, therefore, the tension stressing such. cable conductors.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable dead-end connector of the character specified which is particularly adapted for adjusting each cable conductor span in amultiple cable conductor arrangement to provide uniform sag and tension therebetween and the towers or the likefrom which such conductors are 'suspended. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dead-end connector of the character specified which, when secured to a cable conducton is readily adjustable with respect to a supporting tower or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dead-end connector of the character specified, whereby connections, when-made between the components of a composite A. C. SQR. cable conductor, are posi- 2,866,844 at t 9; .195

"or support when connected to a composite A. C. S. R.

cable conductor.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, the novel features of which are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, both as to its organization and method of construction, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section and illustratin'g the improved dead-end connector as constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of the take-off strap shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of the take-oif strap portion shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the clevis bracket in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the deadend connector as connected to a composite cable conductor;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a fragmentary portion of Fig. 5, showing a modified form of take-off strap;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a further modification showing a cross-plate for connecting more than two tap-lines or loops to the dead-end connector; and

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a fragmentary portion of Fig. 5, showing the takeoff strap permanently secured to -the opposite end of the tubular portion of the dead-end connector.

Referring to the drawing, the improved dead-end connector comprises a straight section of tubing it of highly conductive ductile metal such as malleable aluminum, for example, having a predetermined length and external diameter, the internal diameter 12 of the tubular section 10 being provided with. a screw thread 14 at one end thereof and with a relatively small transverse aperture throughthe wall of the tubular section it), adjacentfthe inner endofthe screw thread l4,'to-provide a sighting and filler hole 16 for the reception of a suitable closure plug 18, all for a purpose hereinafter described.

A'flat, relatively short take-off strap 20 of aluminum,

for example, bent intermediate its ends at an acute angle and suitably rounded at both ends, is provided adjacent onev end thereof with an opening therethrough forthe reception'therein of the threaded end of the tubular section '10, flush therewith and made an integralpart thereof 'asby means of a welded joint 22 or the like.

The opposite end portion of thestrap 20 serves as a "terminal pad 24, having a width equal to or'greater than 'a greater amount of clearance is necessary or desirable between the'tap-line or loop 54 and a tower or the like,

supporting the cable conductor 46, the take-off strap 2%),

as in Fig. 5, may be similarly connected to the opposite end of the tubular section 10, as shown in Fig. 8.

Further in accordance with the invention, a relatively long screw-threaded stud 26 of cold rolled steel, for example, forms an adjustable continuation of the threaded end of the aforesaid tubular section 10, with its outer free end portion mounting a steel clevis bracket 28 thereon in screw-threaded relation for relative adjustment, the parallel free end portions of the clevis bracket 28 presenting aligned openings 30 for the reception of a screw bolt 32 transversely thereof, whereby the clevis bracket is adapted to be anchored to a fixed support in known manner, a suitable lock nut 34 being provided on the stud 26 for binding engagement with the internally threaded end of the clevis bracket 28 to maintain the same in a fixed position of relative adjustment.

As shown in Fig. 1, the end portion 36 of the screw stud 26 anchored within the threaded end portion of the tubular section is provided with a central bore 38 of predetermined diameter and depth, and its outer diameter reduced coextensive with said bore 38, whereby the wall thickness of the end portion 36 is adapted for a a cold metal flow crimping operation.

Further in accordance with the invention, the reduced end portion 36 terminates in an annular shoulder defining a relatively short section of slightly reduced diameter to provide a collar 40 in advance of one end of the screw thread on said stud 26 for carrying a color band or other visual indicia to serve as a check mark through the sighting aperture 16 in said tubular section 10, to assure the threading of the stud 26 to the full depth of the screw thread 14 provided therefor in one end portion of said tubular section 10, an additional lock nut 42 being provided on the screw stud 26 for binding engagement with the screw threaded end of the tubular section 10, whereby the stud and tubular section are locked against relative angular movement.

Referring now to Fig. 5, the improved dead-end connector is shown with the reduced end portion 36 of its screw stud 26 and the opposite free end portion of the tubular aluminum section 10 connected respectively to the steel core 44, and outer aluminum component 46, of a composite A. C. S. R. cable conductor, by means of a series of spaced compression crimps 50 in known manner, whereby the reduced end portion 36 of the steel screw stud 26 is secured in cold metal flow relation to the intruded end portion of the steel core 44, and the opposite free end portion of the tubular aluminum section 10,

secured in identical relation and manner to the outer.

aluminum component 46 of the composite cable conductor.

In connecting the improved dead-end connector to the respective components of a composite A. C. S. R. cable conductor, the tubular aluminum section 10 of the improved dead-end connector is passed over a suitably prepared end portion of a composite cable conductor with the exposed end portion of its steel core 44 extending through and beyond the internally screw-threaded open end of the tubular section 10. At this point, the reduced end portion 36 of the screw stud 26 is telescoped over the exposed portion of the steel core 44, and crimped thereon in a manner well known in the art.

With the steel screw stud 26 mounting the clevis bracket, and lock nuts 34 and 42 thereon, thus connected to the steel core 44 of the composite cable conductor,

the screw-threaded end portion of the tubular aluminum section 10 is passed over the crimped connection previously made between the steel core 44 and reduced end 36 of the screw stud 26, and the threaded portion thereof intruded into the threaded end of the tubular section 10, until the collar 40 of the screw stud 26 appears through the sighting aperture 16, to assure proper, full-threaded engagement of the screw stud 26 within the internally threaded end portion of the tubular section 10, Whereupon the lock nut 42 is tightened against the take-off strap 20 and the outer face of the nut 42 suitably staked to the screw stud 26 whereby the assembly is locked in posi tion against relative rotation. Subsequently, the opposite free end portion of the tubular aluminum section 10 is secured on the outer component 46 of the composite cable by means of a compression crimping operation as aforesaid, and the space between the inner wall of the tubular section 10 and the crimped connection between the steel core 44 and reduced end portion 36 of the screw stud 26 is filled with a suitable anti-corrosion compound or the like through the sighting aperture 16 which is thereafter closed by suitably securing the plug 18 therein, as will be understood.

A suitable tap-line cable conductor 54 is finally connected to the apertured free end 24 of the angle strap 20, forming an integral part of the tubular section 10, by means of a suitable terminal -lug 56 having its sleeve end portion 58 telescoped over one end portion of the conductor 54 and permanently secured thereon by means of a series of spaced compression crimps, as indicated at 60, and its apertured fiat end portion 62 secured to the free end portion 24 of the angle strap 20 by means of two or more screw bolts 64 (see Fig. 3), including lock nuts 66 and washers 68 therefor, as shown in Fig. 2.

The dead-end connector assembly as thus formed in situ, including the composite cable conductor 46 and tap-line conductor 54 connected thereto, is suspended from a fixed member, tower or the like (not shown) by means of the clevis bracket 28 and its correlated screw bolt 32 in known manner. Such adjustments as may thereafter be necessary to take up or pay out sag in a cable conductor are made by temporarily disconnecting the clevis bracket 28 from the tower while supporting the cable conductor with a suitable block-and-tackle arrangement, and then adjusting the clevis bracket 28 relative to the screw stud 26, it being understood, of course, that the length of the composite cable conductor and tap line conductor to be suspended is such, before attachment of the dead-end connector assembly thereto, that the amount of adjustment provided therein will be sufficient for all normal installations.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be expressly understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the inventive concept underlying the same. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited except as is necessitated by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dead-end connector assembly adapted for taking up and paying out sag in a composite cable conductor while in suspended position, comprising a tubular member of ductile metal adapted for permanently anchoring one end portion thereof to the outer component of said composite conductor, the opposite end portion of said tubular member being counterbored and provided with an'internal screw thread, a screw stud including a reduced tubular end portion secured within the screwthreaded end of said tubular member, said reduced end portion of said stud being adapted for permanently anchoring an exposed end portion of the inner component of said composite conductor within said tubular member, a clevis bracket adjustably mounted on the free end portion of said screw stud, and a pair of locknuts carried by said screw stud for locking said tubular member, screw stud and clevis bracket against relative angular movement.

2. A dead-end connector adapted for simultaneously stressing the inner and outer components of a composite cable conductor uniformly in suspended position, comprising a tubular member of ductile metal adapted to have an end portion of said outer component permanently an chored within one end portion thereof, the opposite end portion of said tubular member being counterbored and provided with an internal screw-thread, a steel screw stud provided with a reduced end portion adjustably secured within the opposite end portion of said tubular member, said reduced end portion being provided with a central bore and adapted to have an exposed end portion of said inner component intruded into said bore and permanently anchored to said reduced end portion within said tubular member, a tap line connecting means permanently secured to the screw-threaded end of said tubular member substantially normal thereto, a supporting means adjustably mounted on the free end of said screw stud, and adjustable means carried by said screw stud for locking said tubular member and supporting means against relative angular movement.

3. In combination with a composite cable conductor having an inner and outer component of steel and aluminum respectively with an end portion of said inner component extending beyond said outer component, of a deadend connector assembly comprising a tubular member of ductile metal having an internally screw-threaded counterbore in one end portion thereof and a screw-threaded steel stud secured therein in partial telescopic relation, the opposite end portion of said tubular member being permanently anchored to said outer component, the telescoped end portion of said stud presenting a reduced diameter having a central bore therein with the extended end portion of said inner component intruded in said bore in permanently anchored relation, a supporting means adjustably secured on the free end portion of said stud, adjustable means carried by said stud for locking said tubular member and supporting means against relative angular movement, and a take-oil strap having one end thereof permanently secured to the screw-threaded end of said tubular member substantially normal thereto having a terminal lug including a tap line detachably secured thereto.

4. A dead-end connector assembly comprising a tubular member of ductile metal having an internally screwthreaded counterbore in one end thereof and a transverse aperture leading into said tubular member adjacent the inner end of said screwthreaded counterbore, a tapline connecting strap having one end thereof permanently connected to the threaded end of said tubular member substantially normal thereto, a terminal lug including a plurality of screw bolts detachably connected to the free end portion of said connecting strap, a screw-threaded steel stud having a reduced end portion terminating in a short color-banded portion of reduced diameter at the inner end of the screw thread thereon and a central bore coextensive with said reduced end portion, said stud being threaded within the threaded end of said tubular member with its reduced end portion therewithin and said color banded portion substantially in alignment with said transverse aperture, a clevis bracket including a pivot 1.

5. In combination with a composite cable conductor having an inner and outer component of steel and aluminum respectively with an end portion of said inner component extending beyond said outer component, of dead-end connector assembly comprising a tubular member of ductile metal having one end portion thereof per- I manently anchored to the outer aluminum component of said cable, the opposite end portion of said tubular memher being counterbored for a relatively short distance and provided with an internal screw thread, a screw-threaded steel stud having a reduced end portion provided with an axial bore secured within the screw-threaded end of said tubular member with its reduced end portion permanently anchored to the inner steel component of said cable within said tubular member, a clevis bracket adjustably mounted on the free end portion of said screw stud including a pair of lock nuts securing said tubular member, screw stud and clevis bracket against relative angular movement, and a take-off strap having one end thereof permanently secured on the screw-threaded end of said tubular member substantially normal thereto having a terminal lug including a tap line detachably secured thereto by means of a plurality of screw bolts.

6. A dead-end connector assembly comprising a tubular member of ductile metal having a counterbored end portion provided with an internal screw-thread and a transverse aperture leading into said tubular member adjacent the inner end of said internal screw thread, a tapline connecting strap having an apertured end thereof ermanently connected about the countcrbored end of said tubular member substantially normal thereto, a terminal lug including a plurality of screw bolts detachably connected to the depending free end portion of said connecting strap, a screw-threaded stud having a relatively long reduced end portion provided with an axial bore therein and a short reduced diametral portion between said first-named reduced end portion and the screwthreaded portion of said stud, provided with a color band and defining a shoulder at the inner end of said screwthreaded portion, said stud being secured within the threaded end of said tubular member with its colorbanded portion in alignment with said transverse aperture, a clevis bracket including a pivot bolt adjustably mounted on the free end portion of said screw stud, and

' lock nuts carried by said screw stud in binding engagement with the threaded end of said tubular member and said clevis bracket locking said tubular member, screw stud and clevis bracket against relative angular movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,011,208 Williams Aug. 13, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 156,201 Australia Apr. 23, 1954 

